West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to visit Goa on October 28

Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool Congress, has set her sights on growing her party’s footprint in poll-bound Goa, particularly in BJP-ruled states. TMC Supremo Mamata will arrive in the coastal state of Goa on October 28 for a two-day visit, amid speculation that the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) may join the TMC.

Following the defection of former Goa chief minister Luizinho Falerio last month, the Bengal chief minister is scheduled to attend a series of political events during her visit. Apart from Falerio, renowned Goan sports figures such as Denzil Franco, a footballer, and Lenny D’Gama, a boxer, had also joined the TMC.
The TMC launched a slogan in Goa before of Mamata’s visit—’Goanchi Navi Shokaal’—ahead of Mamata’s arrival (New morning in Goa). Early next year, the 40-member Goa assembly will be held.
“Her visit will be focused on the TMC’s stance in the coastal state’s politics. During Mamata’s visit, a few more prominent faces in Goa politics is likely to come to join our party. She will also hold meeting with some of the prominent faces who are known their anti-BJP views,’’ said a Trinamool leader.
The TMC has already decided to contest in all 40 of Goa’s Assembly seats in the upcoming elections. Mamata has sent MPs Derek O’Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, and Prasun Banerjee, as well as cabinet minister Manoj Tiwari, to Goa to campaign the party’s agenda.
Aside from the coastal state, the TMC is also looking forward for expanding its territory in Tripura adhereing in mind with the target of the 2023 Assembly elections. “Before the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections, we will hoist our party flags in these two states by derailing the BJP-led government in Tripura and introducing the TMC-led government in Goa,’’ said a leader of the Bengal’s ruling party.